CEO of Overstock.com to Discuss Economic Crisis

OGDEN, Utah – Patrick Byrne, founder and CEO of Overstock.com, will discuss the current economic crisis during a visit to Weber State University on Nov. 6.

The event, which is free to the public, will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Shepherd Union Ballroom A on WSU’s Ogden campus.

Byrne’s presentation “Crime, Panic and Deep Capture,” will address current economic issues and his ongoing campaign against naked short selling, a Wall Street practice he believes violates securities laws and has contributed to recent market woes. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

Byrne is chairman and CEO of Overstock.com, Inc., a Utah-based internet retailer that has been publicly traded since 2002. Under Byrne’s leadership the company’s annual revenue has grown from $1.8 million in 1999 to $760.2 million in 2007. Businessweek magazine has honored Byrne as a leader in e-commerce. Prior to founding Overstock.com, Byrne served as chairman, president and CEO of Centricut, LLC, a manufacturer of industrial torch consumables, then held the same three positions at Fechheimer Brothers, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company that manufactures police, firefighter and military uniforms.

Byrne’s visit is sponsored by WSU’s John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics MBA Alumni Association.